RGS / FT Essay Competition

Another annual competition organised by the RGS has now been launched for 2026: the Financial Times Essay competition.

The 2026 School Essay Competition, organised in partnership with the Financial Times, invites students to answer the following question:

What factors drive migration, how are patterns shifting and what are the consequences?

Please include changes resulting from climatic factors and post-2020 geopolitics in your answer.

You can submit your essay at any time before the deadline. Seach FT.com for the latest news to help with your essay. You can also use other sources.

Examples at the time of the competition launch include the following, but you should use these links alongside additional sources you have found yourself.

5 maps that will change the way you see the world
Europe braces for Middle East migration surge
Has Europe learnt to manage migration?
Linking aid and migration policies a ‘sea change’, says IOM head
OECD reports sharp fall in work-related migration to rich countries
What happens if the UK and US reach net zero (migration)?
FT.com keyword search ‘migration’

What the judges are looking for

A clear essay or ArcGIS StoryMap that is well-evidenced and reaches a clear conclusion
Submissions that do not exceed 1,000 words (excluding the title and references) – submissions over 1,000 words will not be considered. 

The word count must be provided in the document.

Referenced sources of information and data, including the FT
Submissions which are the entrant’s own work and relevant to the question and guidance

You must check that you meet the geography study requirements outlined in the terms and conditions before you enter.

Entries must be received by Monday 9 November 2026 at 5.00pm GMT.

Good luck!

Come and join me on the RGS Education Committee

Nominations are now invited from Fellows for Committee positions to be elected in June 2026.

Please note, there are no Council positions up for election in 2026, but the positions on committees are as follows:

• Research and Higher Education Committee - Chair of the Annual Conference 2027 (to serve on the committee June 2026-June 2028, a two-year term).
• Research and Higher Education Committee - Member (to serve on the committee June 2026-June 2029, a three-year term).
• Education Committee - Member (to serve on the committee June 2026-June 2030, a four-year term).
• Professional Practice Committee - Member (to serve on the committee June 2026-June 2030, a four-year term).
• Expeditions and Fieldwork Committee - Member (to serve on the committee June 2026-June 2030, a four-year term).

The expertise and interests of Council and committee members represent the main areas of RGS activity and bring a breadth of experience from the wider world. The positions provide a valuable opportunity to contribute to the Society’s activities and serve as a direct influence on its strategic direction.

Nominations for candidates with the following key skills/expertise areas would be welcomed:

• Research and Higher Education Committee - Chair of the Annual Conference 2027: a senior, leading, internationally-renowned scholar.
• Research and Higher Education Committee - Member: Expertise in research leadership and impact in geography with in-depth knowledge of the Society’s research groups and their ethos.
• Education Committee - Member: Practical expertise, skills and knowledge as an established geography teacher and head of department at secondary level in either the maintained or private sector.
• Professional Practice Committee - Member: Active interest in higher-level skills training for those in the professional practice, including, but not limited to, professional development courses, apprenticeships and micro-credentials.
• Expeditions and Fieldwork Committee – Member: Expertise in purposeful travel and exploration, strategic approaches to community growth and knowledge mobilisation through creative or civic channels.

We are looking for a range of experience, genders, ethnicities, and ages to apply for these roles. 

If you are wondering whether any of the positions are right for you, or you have any queries, please contact the Director's Office.

I'm also happy to respond to any queries from people who are thinking of putting themselves forwards for the Education Committee role.

You'll be working with a fine bunch of geographers.

The deadline is 5.00pm on Thursday 19 March 2026 and all nominations should be sent to the Director, preferably via email: director@rgs.org

Full guidance and information on the nomination process

Discovering the Arctic - refreshed

I went down to the Royal Geographical Society last week to attend the launch of a refreshed Discovering the Arctic website. 

Check it out. 

The content has been updated from the original website, and some more recent additions - including something that I added myself on permafrost back in 2012.

The sections are here now. There is more of a link with the lives of indigenous peoples:

For example, check out this section which looks at how the Arctic can be defined. Where does it start and end? Is it defined by the Arctic Circle?

Young Geographer of the Year 2025

It's that time of year again for the launch of the Young Geographer of the Year category. 

This annual competition is run by the Royal Geographical Society.

The Young Geographer of the Year is the Society’s annual competition which recognises the outstanding work of the next generation of geographers. With its age ranges spanning the primary years to A Level, the competition encourages thoughtful and creative answers to the competition’s theme which is set each year.

The Society encourages schools to run their own in-house competition and then send their top 10 entries into the international competition. The Young Geographer competition has been running for over 20 years and every year thousands of children across the world take part.
2025 competition

The theme for the Young Geographer of the Year competition 2025 is:

Understanding islands

Let’s take a closer look at the World’s islands.

It is estimated that our planet contains almost 670,000 islands, of which around 11,000 are permanently inhabited. Islands have a unique geography; their landscapes and coastlines vary massively – some are home to volcanoes; others are barely above sea level. Some are barren, deserts or rocky outcrops, others lush vegetation havens for a range of unique wildlife and plant species. There are islands seen by many as popular holiday destinations, and there are others that are inaccessible or many miles from civilisation. Every island is unique, and every island has its challenges.

The geography of islands is an interesting one. 

Some are threatened by climate change and issues such as sea level rise, and through this are embroiled in the geopolitics of the climate emergency and the mitigation strategies implemented through both international policies and local-level action. The people who live on islands face a range of socio-economic, cultural or historical challenges, from over-use of their towns and cities by tourists, to access to resources, clean water or adequate living conditions. The ‘ownership’ of some islands is contested; some are protected, others are fought over because of their geopolitical or strategic significance. In some places, islands are being created to meet the need for more space to satisfy our growing population. By exploring and understanding islands, including the island we live on, we can unlock a multitude of geographical themes and connections across people, places and environments.

The Society invites you to create a poster (Esri StoryMap or poster for KS5 entrants) to explore islands and highlight the geographical themes, challenges and solutions that connect across both human and physical geography to make islands unique. We are looking for eye catching, creative and informative posters and StoryMaps that delve into the socio-economic, cultural, political and physical aspects of a range of islands, showcasing their features and exploring how islands can be connected through the challenges that they face and the solutions they use to address those challenges. 

Your posters and StoryMaps should think about geographical themes across people, places and environments.

Festival of Geography - June 2025

Do you like festivals? Course you do...

Like geography? Of course - love it!

How about a Festival of Geography! Yes please!

The Festival of Geography brings together colleagues from the Royal Geographical Society and Geographical Association (GA) for a joint celebration of geographical knowledge and understanding.

This special event is an opportunity for teachers at all stages to come together and share their passion for geography. Over a full day, attend sessions on creative and practical ideas for the classroom and get subject updates from experts in the field.

The day is bookended with sessions from the GA and RGS-IBG on the future of geography teaching and its value as a subject for students of all ages.

The festival consists of a full day of talks and workshops held live at the RGS-IBG in London on 16 June 2025.

Programme

• 10.00 - Welcome
• 10.15 - Geography: the Big Picture (Steve Brace, GA Chief Executive)
• 10.45 - Keynote lecture: Mark Maslin (University College London)
• 11.30 - Tea and coffee
• 11.45 - Creative curriculum ideas (Fiona Sheriff)
• 12.45 - Lunch
• 13.30 - Practical fieldwork ideas (Chloë Searl)
• 14.30 - Tea and coffee
• 14.45 - Subject knowledge sessions (Anjana Khatwa and guest)
• 15.45 - Choose Geography: embedding careers education into your teaching (Alan Parkinson, VP Education Royal Geographical Society)
• 16.15 - Close

Full details and a booking link can be found on this link.

I hope to see many of you down at the 'Home of Geography' for this special event...

A new role for me at the RGS-IBG

I've been connected with the RGS-IBG for quite a number of years in various ways, as were quite a few other former GA Presidents. 

I'm now about to strengthen those connections a little more.

In 2007 I became a Fellow of the RGS and Chartered Geographer (Teacher) and have been ever since.

In 2008, I was awarded their Ordnance Survey Award for excellence in Secondary Geography Teaching. This was a proud moment and came at the culmination (I thought) of my teaching career as I was joining the Geographical Association and stepping out of the classroom. I didn't realise I'd be back again within five years.

I had also spoken at the RGS as part of a student day - with Alastair Owens actually - although I only found that out much later when digging through some old papers. It's a wonderful thing to stand on the stage in the Ondaatje Theatre where so many greats have stood before. We also took students there for a range of events, and I took part in an event representing the Guardian / DfE once as well. I ended up having lunch with Nicholas Crane and have bumped into all sorts of explorers and 'celebrity' geographers at times in the lunch area.

Between 2008 and 2011 I worked closely with the RGS - particularly Steve Brace - who is now the GA Chief Executive of course, and Claire Wheeler (now Claire Brown) along with the rest of their APG team as part of the Action Plan for Geography. This meant regular meetings at either the RGS or Solly Street at a time when Michael Palin was president.

From 2011 onwards for several years I contributed resources to the RGS website, thanks to Steve Brace. This included:

- From the Field resources - working with PhD researchers to translate their work into the classroom

- 'A' level / fieldwork materials funded by a Data Skills project

- a resource on Hunstanton's famous stripy cliffs

- the education materials for Felicity Aston's Going Beyond funded trip to the Pole of Cold - these won an award from the SAGT.

If you are a fellow, you will have received your electronic 'ballot paper' for the elections for Council for June 2024 and will perhaps have noticed that I have put myself forward for the post of Vice President: Education. I had to keep this to myself for a while.

This blog post would have been a request to vote for me in an election, but as it turned out I stood unopposed, so will be confirmed in this role at the AGM of the RGS in June, the same day as the RGS's Awards are handed out.

From June I shall therefore be taking on the role of Vice President: Education at the RGS and have a place on RGS Council for a four year term of office.

Thanks to the fine people who proposed me for the position, including a Polar explorer and some very excellent geography teacher colleagues.

Thanks also must go to my predecessor as VP Education: Mel Norman, who has also been closely associated with the Geographical Association. She Chaired and was Co-Chair/Secretary of the GA's Education Group and was also editor of 'Teaching Geography' for a lengthy period. 

She taught PGCE Geographers for many years - I visited her cohorts a few times while working for the GA - and is also closely associated with the organisation of the Charney Manor Primary Geography Conference. I'm hoping she will pass on more of her wisdom, much as she did when I started my GA Presidency. Speaking of which, Mel is one of those people who has not been GA President (yet) but would be fantastic in the role. She has received awards from the GA for her work in a range of spheres.

If you're going to be at the AGM / Awards or reception in the evening it would be fantastic to catch up. 

I shall be back with more requests as I get started on the role in the summer. 

I look forward to working with all the various Council and committee members, RGS staff and the new incoming President Professor Dame Jane Francis, who received the RGS's Patron's Medal in 2022.

There is work to be done to ensure that all the ongoing support that the RGS offers for teachers meets their needs, and continues to be responsive and inclusive to the changing needs of the profession. I'm excited to offer my support in various ways.

Image: Sam Parkinson

RGS Teachmeet - 26th June

Why not join me in late June for the latest RGS-IBG Teachmeet - once again, it's online rather than face to face, but that allows people to join who would not be able to get to Kensington on a weekday evening, so that's fair enough.

Free to join.

Sign up online here.

Speakers

Jo Clarke, Queen Anne's School – Using audio and visual feedback

Guy Paxman, Durham University - The Greenland StoryMap series

Jen Monk, Stretford High School – Windows and Mirrors, ensuring diversity in our curriculum

Fiona Sheriff, Kingsthorpe College - Beautiful books to inspire curiosity in the classroom

Rosie Moore, Cronton Sixth Form College - Embedding Cornell note-taking to improve assessment outcomes

Alan Parkinson, King's Ely Prep - 'Should I stay or should I go': leveraging professional support for pedagogical longevity

I'll be speaking about pedagogical longevity, and how we can use the available support from professional organisations - including the GA and RGS-IBG - to provide the spark which will get us through those times when we question whether we can stay in the classroom.

Discovering Antarctica refreshed

I received my RGS bulletin a few days ago with news of events leading up to Christmas.

It explained the work that has been going on to refresh one of the sites which I have used every year since it appeared, and also contributed a small section to when it first launched.

Discovering Antarctica has had some new sections added and others refreshed, with the help of Polar scientists.

It remains a real go-to site for us at King's Ely and we will be teaching our Pole to Pole unit again later in the year...

YGOTY 2023

A powerpoint I created to help guide students in putting together their entries for this year's title: 'Blueprint for the Future'